the brotherhood of consolation-第26章

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let　me　be　useful　to　you。〃

〃What　object　have　you？〃　said　the　old　man；　preparing　to　go　down　the
steps　from　the　cloister　of　the　Chartreux　which　leads　from　the　great
alley　of　the　Luxembourg　to　the　rue　d'Enfer。

〃Did　you　never；　in　your　public　functions；　oblige　any　one？〃

The　old　man　looked　at　Godefroid　with　frowning　brows；　his　eyes　were
full　of　memories；　like　a　man　who　turns　the　leaves　of　his　book　of　life；
seeking　for　the　action　to　which　he　owed　this　gratitude；　then　he　turned
away　coldly；　with　a　bow；　full　of　doubt。

〃Well；　for　a　first　investigation　I　did　not　frighten　him　too　much；〃
thought　Godefroid。



XIII

FURTHER　INVESTIGATIONS

Godefroid　now　went　to　the　rue　d'Enfer；　the　address　given　him　by
Monsieur　Alain；　and　there　found　Dr。　Berton；　a　cold；　grave　man；　who
astonished　him　much　by　confirming　all　the　details　given　by　Monsieur
Bernard　about　his　daughter's　illness。　From　him　Godefroid　obtained　the
address　of　Halpersohn。

This　Polish　doctor；　since　so　celebrated；　then　lived　in　Chaillot；　rue
Marbeuf；　in　an　isolated　house　where　he　occupied　the　first　floor。
General　Romanus　Zarnowski　lived　on　the　second　floor；　and　the　servants
of　the　two　refugees　inhabited　the　garret　of　this　little　house；　which
had　but　two　stories。　Godefroid　did　not　find　Halpersohn；　and　was　told
that　he　had　gone　into　the　provinces；　sent　for　by　a　rich　patient；　he
was　almost　glad　not　to　meet　him；　for　in　his　hurry　he　had　forgotten　to
supply　himself　with　money；　and　he　now　went　back　to　the　hotel　de　la
Chanterie　to　get　some。

These　various　trips　and　the　time　consumed　in　dining　at　a　restaurant　in
the　rue　de　l'Odeon　brought　Godefroid　to　the　hour　when　he　said　he　would
return　and　take　possession　of　his　lodging　on　the　boulevard　du　Mont…
Parnasse。　Nothing　could　be　more　forlorn　than　the　manner　in　which
Madame　Vauthier　had　furnished　the　two　rooms。　It　seemed　as　though　the
woman　let　rooms　with　the　express　purpose　that　no　one　should　stay　in
them。　Evidently　the　bed；　chairs；　tables；　bureau；　secretary；　curtains；
came　from　forced　sales　at　auction；　articles　massed　together　in　lots　as
having　no　separate　intrinsic　value。

Madame　Vauthier；　with　her　hands　on　her　hips；　stood　waiting　for　thanks；
she　took　Godefroid's　smile　for　one　of　surprise。

〃There！　I　picked　out　for　you　the　very　best　we　have；　my　dear　Monsieur
Godefroid；〃　she　said　with　a　triumphant　air。　〃See　those　pretty　silk
curtains；　and　the　mahogany　bedstead　which　hasn't　got　a　worm…hole　in
it！　It　formerly　belonged　to　the　Prince　of　Wissembourg。　When　he　left
his　house；　rue　Louis…le…Grand；　in　1809；　I　was　the　kitchen…girl。　From
there；　I　went　to　live　as　cook　with　the　present　owner　of　this　house。〃

Godefroid　stopped　the　flux　of　confidences　by　paying　a　month's　rent　in
advance；　and　he　also　gave；　in　advance；　the　six　francs　he　was　to　pay
Madame　Vauthier　for　the　care　of　his　rooms。　At　that　moment　he　heard
barking；　and　if　he　had　not　been　duly　warned　by　Monsieur　Bernard；　he
would　certainly　have　supposed　that　his　neighbor　kept　a　dog。

〃Does　that　dog　bark　at　night？〃　he　asked。

〃Oh！　don't　be　uneasy；　monsieur；　you'll　only　have　one　week　to　stand
those　persons。　Monsieur　Bernard　can't　pay　his　rent　and　we　are　going　to
put　him　out。　They　are　queer　people；　I　tell　you！　I　have　never　seen
their　dog。　That　animal　is　sometimes　months；　yes；　six　months　at　a　time
without　making　a　sound；　you　might　think　they　hadn't　a　dog。　The　beast
never　leaves　the　lady's　room。　There's　a　sick　lady　in　there；　and　very
sick；　too；　she's　never　been　out　of　her　room　since　she　came。　Old
Monsieur　Bernard　works　hard；　and　the　son；　too；　the　lad　is　a　day…
scholar　at　the　school　of　Louis…le…Grand；　where　he　is　nearly　through
his　philosophy　course；　and　only　sixteen；　too；　that's　something　to
boast　of！　but　the　little　scamp　has　to　work　like　one　possessed。
Presently　you'll　hear　them　bring　out　the　plants　they　keep　in　the
lady's　room　and　carry　in　fresh　ones。　They　themselves；　the　grandfather
and　the　boy；　only　eat　bread；　though　they　buy　flowers　and　all　sorts　of
dainties　for　the　lady。　She　must　be　very　ill；　not　to　leave　her　room
once　since　entering　it；　and　if　one's　to　believe　Monsieur　Berton；　the
doctor；　she'll　never　come　out　except　feet　foremost。〃

〃What　does　this　Monsieur　Bernard　do？〃

〃It　seems　he's　a　learned　man；　he　writes　and　goes　about　to　libraries。
Monsieur　lends　him　money　on　his　compositions。〃

〃Monsieur？　who　is　he？〃

〃The　proprietor　of　the　house；　Monsieur　Barbet；　the　old　bookseller。　He
is　a　Norman　who　used　to　sell　green　stuff　in　the　streets；　and
afterwards　set　up　a　bookstall；　in　1818；　on　the　quay。　Then　he　got　a
little　shop；　and　now　he　is　very　rich。　He　is　a　kind　of　a　Jew；　with　a
score　of　trades；　he　was　even　a　partner　with　the　Italian　who　built　this
barrack　to　lodge　silk…worms。〃

〃So　this　house　is　a　refuge　for　unfortunate　authors？〃　said　Godefroid。

〃Is　monsieur　unluckily　one　himself？〃　asked　the　widow　Vauthier。

〃I　am　only　just　starting；〃　replied　Godefroid。

〃Oh！　my　dear　monsieur；　take　my　advice　and　don't　go　on；　journalist？
well；I　won't　say　anything　against　that。〃

Godefroid　could　not　help　laughing　as　he　bade　good…night　to　the
portress；　who　thus；　all　unconsciously；　represented　the　bourgeoisie。　As
he　went　to　bed　in　the　horrible　room；　floored　with　bricks　that　were　not
even　colored；　and　hung　with　a　paper　at　seven　sous　a　roll；　Godefroid
not　only　regretted　his　little　rooms　in　the　rue　Chanoinesse；　but　also
the　society　of　Madame　de　la　Chanterie。　He　felt　a　void　in　his　soul。　He
had　already　acquired　habits　of　mind；　and　could　not　remember　to　have　so
keenly　regretted　anything　in　all　his　former　life　as　this　break　in　his
new　existence。　These　thoughts；　as　they　pressed　upon　him；　had　a　great
effect　upon　his　soul；　he　felt　that　no　life　could　compare　in　value　with
the　one　he　sought　to　embrace；　and　his　resolution　to　emulate　the　good
old　Alain　became　unshakable。　Without　having　any　vocation　for　the　work；
he　had　the　will　to　do　it。

The　next　day　Godefroid；　already　habituated　by　his　new　life　to　rising
early；　saw　from　his　window　a　young　man　about　seventeen　years　of　age；
dressed　in　a　blouse；　who　was　coming　back；　no　doubt　from　the　public
fountain；　bringing　a　crock　full　of　water　in　each　hand。　The　face　of
this　lad；　who　was　not　aware　that　he　was　seen；　revealed　his　feelings；
and　never　had　Godefroid　observed　one　so　artless　and　so　melancholy。　The
graces　of　youth　were　all　repressed　by　poverty；　by　study；　by　great
physical　fatigue。　Monsieur　Bernard's　grandson　was　remarkable　for　a
complexion　of　extreme　whiteness；　which　the　contrast　with　his　dark　hair
seemed　to　make　still　whiter。　He　made　three　trips；　when　he　returned
from　the　last　he　saw　some　men　unloading　a　cord　of　wood　which　Godefroid
had　ordered　the　night　before；　for　the　long…delayed　winter　of　1838　was
beginning　to　be　felt；　snow　had　fallen　slightly　during　the　night。

Nepomucene；　who　had　begun　his　day　by　going　for　the　wood　（on　which
Madame　Vauthier　levied　a　handsome　tribute）；　spoke　to　the　young　lad
while　waiting　until　the　woodman　had　sawed　enough　for　him　to　carry
upstairs。　It　was　easy　to　see　that　the　sudden　cold　was　causing　anxiety
to　Monsieur　Bernard's　grandson；　and　that　the　sight　of　the　wood；　as
well　as　that　of　the　threatening　sky；　warned　him　that　they　ought　to　be
making　their　own　provision　for　wintry　weather。　Suddenly；　however；　as
if　reproaching　himself　for　lost　time；　he　seized　his　crocks　and　hastily
entered　the　house。　It　was；　in　fact；　half…past　seven　o'clock；　the　hour
was　just　ringing　from　the　belfry　of　the　convent　of　the　Visitation；　and
he　was　due　at　the　college　of　Louis…le…Grand　by　half…past　eight。

As　the　young　lad　entered　the　house；　Godefroid　went　to　his　door　to
admit　Madame　Vauthier　who　brought　her　new　lodger　the　wherewithal　to
make　a　fire；　and　he　thus　became　the　witness　of　a　scene　which　took
place　on　the　landing。

A　neighboring　gardener；　who　had　rung　several　times　at　Monsieur
Bernard's　door　without　making　any　one　hear　（for　the　bell　was　wrapped
in　paper）；　had　a　rather　rough　dispute　with　the　young　lad　who　now　came
up　with　the　water；　demanding　to　be　paid　for　the　flowers　he　had
supplied。　As　the　man　raised　his　voice　angrily　Monsieur　Bernard
appeared。　〃Auguste；〃　he　said　to　his　grandson；　〃dress　yourself；　it　is
time　for　school。〃

He　himself　took　the　two　crocks　of　water；　carried　them　into　the　first
of　his　rooms；　in　which　were　many　pots　of　flowers；　and　returned　to
speak　to　the　gardener；　carefully　closing　the　door　behind　him。
Godefroid's　door　was　open；　for　Nepomucene　had　begun　his　trips；　and　was
stacking　the　wood　in　the　front　room。　The　gardener　was　silent　in
presence　of　Monsieur　Bernard；　whose　tall　figure；　robed　in　a　violet
silk　dressing…gown；　buttoned　to　the　throat；　gave　him　an　imposing　air。

〃You　might　ask　for　what　is　owing　to　you　without　such　noise；〃　said
Monsieur　Bernard。

〃Be　fair；　my　dear　monsieur；〃　said　the　gardener。　〃You　agreed　to　pay　me
every　week；　and　it　now　three　months；　ten　weeks；　since　I　have　had　a
penny；　you　owe　me　a　hundred　and　twenty　francs。　We　let　out　our　plants
to　rich　people　who　pay　us　when　we　ask　for　the　money；　but　this　is　the
fifth　time　I　have　come　to　you　for　it。　I　have　my　rent　to　pay　and　the
wages　of　my　men；　I　am　not　a　bit　richer　than　you。　My　wife；　who　supplied
you　with　eggs　and　milk；　will　not　come　here　any　more；　you　owe　her
thirty　francs。　She　does　not　like　to　dun　you；　for　she　is　kind…hearted；
that　she　is！　If　I　listened　to　her；　I　couldn't　do　business　at　all。　And
so　I；　who　am　not　so　softyou　understand？〃

Just　then　Auguste　came　out　dressed　in　a　shabby　little　green　coat　with
cloth　trousers　of　the　same　color；　a　black　cravat；　and　worn…out　boots。
These　clothes；　though　carefully　brushed；　showed　the　lowest　degree　of
poverty；　they　were　all　too　short　and　too　narrow；　so　that　the　lad
seemed　likely　to　crack　them　at　every　motion。　The　seams　were　white；　the
edges　curled；　the　buttonholes　torn　in　spite　of　many　mendings；　the
whole　presenting　to　the　most　unobservant　eyes　the　heart…breaking
stigmas　of　honest　penury。　This　livery　contrasted　sadly　with　the　youth
of　the　lad；　who　now　disappeared　munching　a　crust　of　stale　bread　with
his　strong　and　handsome　teeth。　He　breakfasted　thus　on　his　way　to　the
rue　Saint…Jacques；　carrying　his　books　and　papers　under　his　arm；　and
wearing　a　little　cap　much　too　small　for　his　head；　from　which　stuck　out
a　mass　of　magnificent　black　hair。

In　passing　before　his　grandfather　the　lad　had　given　him　rapidly　a　look
of　deep　distress；　for　he　knew　him　to　be　in　an　almost　hopeless
difficulty；　the　consequences　of　which　might　be　terrible。　To　leave　room
for　the　boy　to　pass；　the　gardener　had　stepped　back　to　the　sill　of
Godefroid's　door；　and　as　at　that　moment　Nepomucene　arrived　with　a
quantity　of　wood；　the　creditor　was　forced　to　retreat　into　the　room。

〃Monsieur　Bernard！〃　cried　the　widow　Vauthier；　〃do　you　think　Monsieur
Godefroid　hired　his　rooms　to　have　you　hold　your　meetings　in　them？〃

〃Excuse　me；　madame；〃　said　the　gardener；　〃but　there　was　no　room　on　the
landing。〃

〃I　didn't　say　that　for　you；　Monsieur　Cartier；〃　said　the　widow。

〃Remain　where　you　are！〃　cried　Godefroid；　addressing　the　gardener；　〃and
you；　my　dear　neighbor；〃　he　added；　looking　at　Monsieur　Bernard；　who
seemed　insensible　to　the　cruel　insult；　〃if　it　is　convenient　to　you　to
have　an　explanation　with　your　gardener　in　my　room；　come　in。〃

The　old